Sidcot Equestrian Team at Kingsedgemoor

Happy New Year to one and all from Sidcot Equestrian and welcome back to all of our students.

Last weekend the team were back in action and out in force at Kingsedgemoor. We attempted to go one better than last year and qualify two teams to represent the School at the Prestigious National Arena Eventing Championships at the All England show ground, Hickstead, in May.

On an extremely cold winters morning Sidcot started the New year in style. When only the first two teams and Individuals placed in each class can qualify to compete at the National championships to have a single team qualify is brilliant especially as the classes were so big.

In the 70cm class the Sidcot team of Archie Stamp (Third Form), Harriet Blair (J6) Erin Crofts (Upper Fourth) and Sophie Lee (Lower Fourth) came second to secure their place at Hickstead. Individually, Archie Stamp was awarded 3rd place and Erin Crofts 6th so a big well done to both riders.

The 80cm class saw two Sidcot teams competing to try and secure a place at the Championships. This was a particularly large class which had over 65 riders taking part.

This class was so hotly contested from schools all over the country it was nail biting, so when it was announced that both Sidcot teams had come first and second there were great celebrations. It was then announced that Harriet Blair our youngest team member had won the class as an individual rider which meant she would represent the school as part of the team at Hickstead but also individually. This came as a bit of a shock to Harriet but so lovely to see all her team cheering her on. Evie Puddy was awarded 4th place, Sophie Lee riding Eden came Individual 5th and on her pony Deccy came 3rd so again a big well done to each and every one of the riders.

It was then the turn of our 90cm team Emily Mugford (Lower Fifth) Lottie Gunter (Upper Fourth) Evie Puddy (Upper Fourth) Sophie Lee (Lower Fourth). This all girls team did extremely well in another tough class finishing in team Sixth, with Evie Puddy coming 3rd and Sophie Lee coming 7th.

Thank you to all the Riders, their Horses and of course all the Parents for their continued support , how exciting this early into the New Year to have three teams qualified for the 2018 National Arena Eventing Championships. You should all be extremely proud and a big well done from all the Staff at Sidcot Equestrian.

I would also like to say a very warm welcome to our new member of Staff at the Equestrian centre Josie Wedlake. Josie is AI qualified and has been working in the Equine Industry for over 12 years. She is a huge asset to the Equestrian centre and we very much look forward to working with her. You will see Josie regularly riding the horses on the yard , and when she’s not doing so she will be helping with the BHS training. In her spare time Josie likes to compete her own horse in Eventing and rides Dressage to Elementary level.

Finally, for anyone interested in finding out more about Sidcot Equestrian, please call into the Office where any of the staff members will be happy to help.

Have a great weekend.

Independent day and boarding school for boys and girls aged 3 - 18 in Somerset